The Star Chamber

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The Star Chamber

R

Released Aug 5, 1983

1h 49m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Judge Steven Hardin (Michael Douglas) is discouraged by the failures of the legal system after seeing hardened criminals go free on technicalities. Acknowledging Hardin's perspective, his peer, Benjamin Caulfield (Hal Holbrook), introduces him to the Star Chamber, a secret organization that condones vigilante action in cases where justice has not been served. However, when the cabal sentences two criminals to death, and Hardin finds them falsely accused, he clashes with the powerful group.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The Star Chamber works brilliantly until it locks into a plot. Then it stops dancing and starts marching.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Caffeinated Clint

Moviehole

A tour-de-force thriller from Hyams and Douglas... its final moments are as gripping as Superglue!

Rated: 3/5

Jul 23, 2008

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David Kaplan

Kaplan vs. Kaplan

Rated: 4/5

Mar 1, 2008

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Outstanding performances across the board.

Rated: B+

Apr 9, 2007

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Steve Crum

Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

Conspiracy abounds in this early Michael Douglas far fetcher.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 20, 2007

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Rob Thomas

Capital Times (Madison, WI)

A couple of great chases, but it doesn't quite live up to its intriguing premise.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 9, 2006

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Bill B

Rather extreme and unbelievable story about legal technicalities. Holbrook plays his character far too smug, but Douglas is OK. All the real action is at the end and makes the movie worth the $5.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/24/24

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Jack O

I'm not a fan of Peter Hyams as a director because his directing is pretty poor. I actually found this movie forgettable even though this is a declining film I found myself enjoying the chase scenes and that is the highlight of the entire movie itself. Michael Douglas plays a judge who decides who's guilty or not guilty and decides that all cases of people who commited crimes will be dismissed or not. The only case in this is the child who got murdered and Dr. Lewin is the father of the child wants him to put two men Monk and Cooms guilty. I never really got into this and I think it's kinda dry and I'm sure if people heard of it or not, I guess the director of this is really bland.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

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stoner j

Excellent early Douglas courtroom thriller (mostly) with an amazingly awesome idea of a secret society of judges dishing out the justice they couldn't do in the courtroom! Great film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Shioka O

I thought this is another watchable court/crime film, however, the plot sidetracked in last 15 min and broke up. I was confused and almost laughed. Bad but still enjoyable.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/25/22

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Audience Member

A greatly conceived premise that will make many a viewer wish for certain things. The movie works well,and hooks you nicely until its conclusion.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

Don't know who could think this was difficult to follow. Easy going bubblegum movie from the early 80s and worth a watch. I wonder how many times I am going to hear the gear change from bullet copied in movies! This is copied here in the car park scene for the red firebird!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

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Peter Hyams

Director

Michael Douglas

Superior Court Judge Steven R. Hardin

Hal Holbrook

Judge Benjamin Caulfield

Yaphet Kotto

Det. Harry Lowes

Sharon Gless

Emily Hardin

James B. Sikking

Dr. Harold Lewin

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Synopsis

Judge Steven Hardin (Michael Douglas) is discouraged by the failures of the legal system after seeing hardened criminals go free on technicalities. Acknowledging Hardin's perspective, his peer, Benjamin Caulfield (Hal Holbrook), introduces him to the Star Chamber, a secret organization that condones vigilante action in cases where justice has not been served. However, when the cabal sentences two criminals to death, and Hardin finds them falsely accused, he clashes with the powerful group.

Director: Peter Hyams
Producer: Frank Yablans
Screenwriter: Roderick Taylor, Peter Hyams
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 5, 1983, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2015
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround

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